Charlotte typed out a quick reply saying she was almost there, but before the message could send, a deafening explosion ripped through the air.

Then came the chaos.

Panicked crowds surged in every direction, fleeing the epicenter.

Ten seconds later, another text from Donald lit up Charlotte's screen: Danger. Get out of here.

Who was in danger?

Was that explosion meant for him?

Charlotte held her breath, instantly dialing Donald's number.

His phone was already turned off.

Something had definitely happened to him.

Charlotte lowered her eyes, ordering Jackson and Adonis to call for backup while she sprinted straight toward the roaring flames.

The café was completely decimated.

She scanned the burning wreckage, but there was no sign of Donald.

"..."

Staring at the blazing inferno, a suffocating wave of dread washed over her, a harsh ringing filling her ears.

Donald had arrived early. Was he trapped inside?

Just as Charlotte stood frozen, a blonde woman rushed up to her, asking frantically, "Excuse me, are you Charlotte?"

"..."

Charlotte looked at her, her gaze dropping to the wooden box clutched in the woman's arms. A large "D" for Donald was carved into the lid.

It belonged to her brother.

"A gentleman asked me to give this to you." Having confirmed her identity, the woman shoved the box into Charlotte's hands and turned to bolt.

Jackson reacted instantly, grabbing her arm. "Boss."

Charlotte clutched the box tightly, finally finding her voice. "Where is he?" she rasped.

"He..."

The woman's face drained of color as she stuttered, "He was taken by The Stygian Syndicate."

The Stygian Syndicate?

At the sound of that name, Charlotte's beautiful features twisted into a deep scowl.

"The Stygian Syndicate is the largest illegal cartel in Latin America. They operate out of the rainforest borders and control all the surrounding maritime shipping routes."

"They're absolutely ruthless, running purely on blood and greed."

Adonis's expression turned grave as he looked at Charlotte. "Boss, how did Donald get tangled up with The Stygian Syndicate?"

One side represented the law, the other represented total darkness. They were sworn enemies.

"..."

Charlotte stayed silent, her mind racing with everything she knew about that cartel.

Her grandfather had mentioned it before. Years ago, while Donald was on a naval escort mission near Serpent's Bay, his convoy was ambushed.

The attackers were The Stygian Syndicate.

Donald had been held captive for nearly a year. He endured psychological torture, bribery attempts, and brutal physical abuse, nearly losing his life at Serpent's Bay.

Eventually, the cartel probably realized he wouldn't break and had no further value as leverage.

Or maybe they just didn't want the heat of executing him, so they let him go.

When he finally made it home, he was half-dead, barely pulling through.

This time, they were definitely targeting him again.

"Look into all recent Stygian Syndicate activity immediately. Get me a direct line to their leader."

Charlotte flipped the box open: Nestled inside were two exquisite baby bracelets: A freezing anger seeped into her eyes: "Send them a warning: If they a single finger on Donald, theyre dead: lay

"Yes, Boss."

Jackson nodded respectfully. Just as he pulled out his phone to make the call, Charlotte's phone began to vibrate.

It was an unknown number.

The area code was local to Latin America.

In that split second, everything clicked for Charlotte.

Maybe they weren't targeting Donald after all. Maybe they were targeting her.

"Speak," Charlotte said coldly as she answered the call.

"Nine. You are incredibly difficult to track down."

A raspy, gravelly male voice echoed through the speaker.

Nine?

They knew who she was?

"Or perhaps I should say, Miss N?"

The man chuckled, the sound dripping with a chilling malice.

—

More updates coming.